3 steps in witnessing strategy
There are many methods that may help you when presenting the gospel. For example, some prefer the Share Jesus Without Fear model and others may prefer the popular 3 Circles diagram. Both of these methods teach the need to repent of sin and trust in Christ for salvation. Each church may utilize a different preferred gospel method — this is especially true as churches embrace the Gospel to Every Home (GTEH) initiative. Regardless of the preferred method, I would like to encourage you to knock, ask and invite. Kentucky Baptists plan to deliver gospel-centered bags to every home in Kentucky. Each association will customize their bags to best fit their areas. Most bags will contain the GTEH insert, which will explain the initiative, offer links and phone numbers for follow up — but most importantly include the G.O.S.P.E.L. acronym (explained at the end of this article).
Kentucky Baptists are encouraged to use the insert like they would a gospel booklet. Listed below is how the GTEH insert can be utilized by knocking, asking and inviting.
1. Knock on the door. Many homes will have the bag left on a door because no one is home, but how do you know if someone is home or not unless you first knock? I pray that real gospel conversations, with real people, will occur during the GTEH campaign.
After you knock, you may be surprised that the door is opened to you! Greet the person and then explain your business. Explain that your church is getting the gospel to every home.
2. Ask if you can share some “good news.” If the person agrees, you can then point to the GTEH insert. Point to each letter of the G.O.S.P.E.L. acronym and then read the sentence that corresponds to the letter. After reading the presentation to the person, you can then ask if he/she has any thoughts or questions (at this point you may be able to get into a good conversation).
You may be surprised when you see the Holy Spirit working in a person’s life. The GTEH insert is just one tool of many. You can also use this same approach with any biblical gospel tract.
3. Invite them to trust Christ. Oftentimes many fall short of asking for a gospel decision. Don’t be afraid to ask! Trust that the gospel has spoken into the life of this person. If the person is ready to make a decision, encourage him/her (right there at the door) to call upon the Lord for salvation.
Knock, ask and invite is a simple way that you can share the gospel from door to door. As local associations mobilize churches to get the gospel to every home, we pray Kentucky Baptists will knock, ask and invite people to Jesus Christ.
More than that, we pray that many Kentuckians will repent of their sins and trust in Christ for salvation.
Here are the specifics of the G.O.S.P.E.L. acronym:
G: God loves us and created us in His own image to have a relationship with Him.
“So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” — Gen. 1:27
O: Our sin (the wrong things we do, think, and say) separate us from God.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Rom. 3:23
S: Sin, like a stain, is not removed by good deeds we do, or churches we join, or rituals we undergo.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Rom. 6:23
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.” — Eph. 2:8–9
P: Paying the price for our sin, Jesus died, as our substi- tute, on the cross, was buried and raised back to life from the dead.
“But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Rom. 5:8
“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit.” — 1 Pet. 3:18
E: Every person who willfully turns from their sin and trusts in Jesus as their Savior and Lord will be saved.
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” — Rom. 10:9–10
L: Life begins the moment we trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord and lasts forever.
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” — Rom. 10:13
Kenny Rager is the church evangelism strategist for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, covering the western half of Kentucky.
Kenny Rager